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ACC to experiment with 30-second shot clock

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford told reporters Thursday at the ACC Spring Meetings in Amelia Island, Fla., that the University of Louisville's new league will experiment with shorter shot

ACC to experiment with 30-second shot clock

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford told reporters Thursday at the ACC Spring Meetings in Amelia Island, Fla., that the league will experiment with shorter shot clocks in men's basketball games this fall.

Swofford, according to ESPN, will use a 30-second shot clock as opposed to the traditional 35 in ACC exhibition games this season.

Along with freedom of motion rules emphasized by officials last season, Louisville coach Rick Pitino has spoken in support of shorter shot clocks used by the NBA. The league uses a 24-second clock.

• On the final day of the meeting, Swofford informed media members that athletic directors have approved a football scheduling model announced earlier this week. Starting in 2017, ACC members will be required to play their normal eight conference games, plus at least one team from the other four major conferences.

The Southeastern Conference passed a similar motion earlier this year. Assuming the U of L-UK rivalry continues — the current contract runs through 2016 — that game will fulfill the requirement for both teams.

• ACC leadership has discussed the possibility of an early football signing period,which Swofford told ESPN "would be (a) healthy thing for recruits" and "our coaches will pursue that going forward." The proposed recommended date for that is Aug. 1, long before the traditional first Wednesday of February.

• Duke will host the ACC baseball tournament from 2015-2018, the league announced. It's been largely speculated that Durham, N.C., could be a long-term venue for the event.

• While the ACC men's basketball tournament is due to visit three venues in as many seasons starting in 2015, Swofford said the women's tournament will remain in Greensboro, N.C., for the long term — through at least 2022. The ACC has played that tournament there since 1953, and the 2014 tournament drew 60,000 fans, most of any.

• Asked the earliest the ACC could launch its own television network, Swofford said, "Several years."